Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-11-25

THE REPTBLICAN PARTY on THf
LIQUOR PROBLEM- LARGE CITIES
THE STRONG-HOLDS OF THE GROG-
SHOP INTEREST.
The only substantial victories over the
grog- shop interest that have been achieved
have ma,erialized only in states under the
control Of republicans, and they have beer
achieved mostly through their efforts. But
these victories have been gained mainly in
commonwealth that have no very large
cities-in Vermont. New Hampshire,
Rhode Island. Iowa, Kansas and Massa
chusetts. In this last-named state, there
would be but little difficulty in eXtinguish-
ing the tipping honses. altogether. but foi
the obstruction which the powerful liquor
interest of Boston puts in the way. In
Iowa. rs is learned from the Dss Mones
Register. the leading republican paper OF
the state, very significant meeting was
recently held in the Des Moines opera
house. at which democrat presided. and
which another democrat, and a strong one
too. and one of the richest men in the city.
addressed. In his speech he arraigned his
own party for its support of the saloon,
and said that, in the interests of tempe
rance, and in order that he might work
with the party of temperance. he should
vote the republican ticket of the state.
Patience. SAYS the editor of the Register.
will drive the saloon from the state, and he
adds: 1t may take twenty-five years to
do this. but the result is certain, il people
will only give the law time to assert itself
and create n sentiment which will demand
its execution everywhere" The practical
distractions in Iowa are the cities-Du-
buke. Sioux City-in which town Haddock
WAS martyred for the temperance cause
and Davenport. In Des Moines the traffic
has been utterly rubbed out. These are
not mere newspaper statements. They are
accredited and undeniable facts.
Now. IL is asked: Why do not Ohio re-
pablicans do as the republicans have
done in Iowa, Kansas. Maine and Vermont?
The answer is easy. Cincinnati's over-th
Rhine district is the obstacle. The rural
T .publicans of Ohio-largely preponderating
IN the party-are opposed to the liquor
traffic. The great majority of them voted.
on the proposed constitutional amendment,
directly against the sale or manufacture of
intoxicating liquors. But they were
beaten. Then the republicans tried the next
b st thing-the Scott law, with provisions
f,i tax on the traffic. This disaifected
large proportions of the Germans. who in
their native land drank beer as freely land
in many instances with as little thought of
hsrml as we drink water. and they left our
ranks, allowing us to be defeated. But.
finally. the Scott law being declared unccn-
stifutional, we passed the Dow law, which
stands constitutional tests. taxes the liquor
saloons. and provides for local option in
cities and villages-the very principles
which the partisan prohibitionists approve
oG-in Georgia Now let il be borne in
mind that the republican Germans OF Ohio
have, in the reeeni election. expressed tieir
approval Of taxing the liquor traffic and of
the principle OF local option as applied to
the traffic. This is republican achieve
neat that has not been gained in any
other State than Ohio. 1t is an achieve
ment honorable to them and to the honest.
e ,Iightened, liberal Germans who voted
with them.
Now, let us see what the re-
publicans have done in behalf
Of law and order and pure ballot, at the
saue time that they were effectively treat
lg the liquor traffic. Under democratic boss
and Doodle and yeilow-dog republican rule.
in Hamilton county, murderers and other
scoundrels went unwhipped of justice. TO !
such an extent that the jail at Cincinnati |
was filled with red-handed Williams who had |
escaped the gallows by corrupt means. FL |
lally mob attacked and destroyed the
,ourt house, and the public sentiment of |
he city was aroused and vitaIized. Then !
md afterward ballot-boxes were stuffed ard I
,andi istes whe were elected were counted |
'ut. A large class OF citizens were virtu-
lily disfranchised.
At length. native American and German
epublicans united in the work OF cleansing
nd protecting the ballot, and on November
;h. 1887. there was In Cincinnati an abso-
Iiely clean and pure election, fair count
nd great republican victory. But. pro-
ibition writer says, in the NelC Era:
Beer-drinking Germans voted with repub-
cans" Well: what of il? Ii beer
rinking Germans should attempt TO vote
le prohibition ticket, would these COM
laining brethren drive them from the polls?
nd if ''teer-drinking Germans" sustain a
quor-,ax and the local option idea today.
'ho can say they will not be going further
/ the same line. hereafter?
The republicans of Ohio have gone as far
public sentiment would permit. They
ave gone ahead Of il. in fact, and lead it. {
their treatment of liquor problems. and
icy have brought up the masses to their
,sition. And they will not stop here: but !
, farther. as fast as the people can be ed /.
,a;ed and advanced. Meanwhile. they /
e doing the pioneer work which is a5sO- C
tely necessary in order to protect even il
cir political opponents. the labor parti-
ms, the prohibition partisans. and f
e anti-salOOn democrats, from disfran- q